Chương 335: Epilogue 9. Echo

"And here we are, Son. That didn't take so long, did it?"

"Father, a year might be the blink of an eye to old people like you, but I promise you it felt a lot longer than that to me. At this rate, Cicada might have become ready before me, and I'd never have lived that down…," Wren muttered as he adjusted the simple robes he was wearing, a slight hint of the seventeen year old being rather nervous. Excited too, but definitely nervous.

"I was seventeen too, you know. When I was ready. And you do take after me quite a lot, Wren. Even somewhat with your choice of path, as it turns out," Kite chuckled, before retrieving his son's chosen essences and handing them to him. The armor essence, a seemingly metal cube showing hints of joints and seams. The trap essence, its murky gloom hinting at concealed dangers. And the final one, blue and shimmering with potential; the magic essence.

Their confluence would be guardian, a path with similarities to Kite's own, at least in some ways. And one of which he definitely approved.

"The path of a guardian isn't an easy one, but I will admit that it is very rewarding," Kite continued as Wren took the three cubes with care.

"And while mine can definitely be called that when I stride into conflict alongside friends, family and teammates, yours will be one through and through, Wren. I would have supported any non-restricted choice, of course but… Do know that I am proud of you, and the path you are setting out on."

"I… Thank you, Father," Wren eventually replied with the solemnity only certain teenagers seemed to be able to muster; when every choice felt severe and filled with meaning. At least this one was indeed rather momentous. Throughout the years, it had been rather clear how Wren had come to idolize his father.

Not at every moment of course, as the two had butted heads more than once in the way that family inevitably would, but overall Kite had not needed his aura sense to pick up on how much Wren wanted to make him proud.

Walking the metaphorical tightrope between affirming Wren in most of what he did while also trying to guide him to make choices of his own had not always been easy, but in the end Wren coming into his own was reflected in his choice of essences; similar to Kite's in the role that they would result in, but also distinct and separated. A symbol of Kite's oldest son having gone and grown up.

"Come now then," Kite said before he himself would start becoming emotional at the thought.

"They are all waiting for us - or you, more specifically - and I don't think you want to wait any longer than necessary, do you, Son?"

"Go on, Wren! Show us the next~!" a few rats hollered from atop a nearby building as the festivities celebrating Wren's ascent to iron rank continued. Wander's cry was quickly followed by more joining in, wanting another demonstration of freshly awakened essence powers which the now very proud seventeen year old was all too happy to give them.

"Of course, of course," Wren said, straightening in front of his audience of family and friends.

"This one is courtesy of esteemed Uncle Walker and Auntie Spring."

"Was that the awakening stone of the forest?" Dragonfly whispered to Kite while making sure to keep an eye on the rest of their little brood of children so that none of the younger ones tried charging their oldest brother again. Fortunately, they had another group of rats currently entertaining Mantis, Hawk and Butterfly - now twelve, eleven and ten years old respectively - with Auntie Wander having been a regularly-present source of both joy and mischief in the family compound most of their lives.

"It was, although I suppose that would not be too hard to guess," Kite chuckled.

"I believe he has one lined up for each of the children."

"Much like their grandfather will have void stones for them too, I suppose? That man sure spoils them rotten, spending so much on them."

"Well, the void is perhaps the most integral part of his path. He might have tried going for essences instead, had I not dissuaded him," Kite chuckled.

"Best they choose their own paths while the rest of us touch a mere tile or two of what they're forging…" If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Both he and Dragonfly trailed off, however, as that was when Wren activated his most recent essence power. In a flash of verdant growth, an armor was conjured to cover his body; full, articulated plate wrought from what seemed to be polished wood.

"Oh gods… Kite. It's just like yours when we first met!" Dragonfly choked, sentimentality flowing from her in waves. From Kite as well, for that matter. Because his wife spoke the truth. The armor was not identical, but with Wren's dark hair and blue eyes, it just served to highlight the similarities between the young man who had stared back at Kite in the mirror all those years ago and the one currently standing proudly before his family.

Thus, the two equally proud parents could do little else but hold each other's hands and watch their eldest, now almost an adult; a clear echo of his father in so many ways yet still his own. Song of Wren Heralds the Calm. And for seventeen years, it had. But now, his proud smile hinted at something else on the horizon for their family. Because while he might be the first of them, the rest of the children were soon to follow.

Sixteen year old Cicada was already looking at her brother with awe and a fair share of longing, with an intensity that gave Kite a distinct feeling that she would probably not be far behind Wren. They'd better start preparing for some more intensified training. And for most interesting days to come.

"Trust in your skills and your path, Wren. With those, you've got all you need," Kite counseled, more to try to calm his son's nerves rather than him actually needing the advice.

"Oh, it looks like it has sensed you. Go." With those words, Kite took a step back as he used his aura to push against the perceptions of all the creatures nearby. This meant that to Wren, he almost seemed to disappear, and the young man squared his now-armored shoulders as another small surge of mana caused the armor's helmet to manifest and cover his head and cheeks. And as the other creature present had never sensed Kite at all, this only led to one target for it to approach.

The gyrmling looked as they all tended to; a short, stocky and vaguely humanoid creature of gooey green clad in armor of bark scavenged from nearby trees and magically reinforced. And much like they all did, this one showed the same territorial streak that made the rather weak creatures such a nuisance in the forest-covered north of Hua-Xi.

The scene before him gave Kite another flashback to his own youth, though it was him who took the role of mentor and guardian this time, much like Uncle Walker had back in the day for him. But Wren had more powers awakened now than Kite had back then, as well as more training, and as such Kite wasn't worried. Unless Wren severely underestimated the creature before him, he had confidence in his son's abilities.

Wren seemed to be able to muster some confidence of his own too as he approached, brandishing his heavy glaive - the weapon he had so far taken the most liking to during training - as he found his footing. Though Kite was unsure if he would need it. This final approach was enough for the gyrmling to cease its posturing and instead charge forward, sharp bark claws leading as it went for Wren, only to suddenly be yanked backward as a banner sprouting tendrils like glowing golden ropes suddenly rose from behind it.

The banner itself was not overly imposing with its thin flag of golden silk, at least not yet, but its bindings were effective enough as it brought the gyrmling to an abrupt halt. Then - Glaive held in one hand - Wren's armored fist lashed out as a ripple of magical force struck the monster, sending it tumbling to the other side of the banner's binding area until the ropes pulled taut once more.

Even before it stopped though, Wren had already used Intangible Fist - a special attack from his magic essence - again, and the second impact not only crumpled the armor and part of the body of the gyrmling but the force also caused the already straining ropes to snap, leading to a bright detonation of golden light as the banner and bindings alike detonated. This was enough to tear the poor monster to shreds and earn Wren his first takedown on his path.

Kite could only imagine what would come of it; Wren an armored juggernaut among a field of traps, restraints and bindings while his guardian powers let him swiftly come to the aid of any ally as well as ward enemies off with forceful counters… But that was the future, and Kite himself knew very well that certain opportunities and other events would greatly change what his son would eventually be able to accomplish. As for the near future though…

"Excellent work, Son. A most clean takedown," Kite praised even without revealing his position.

"Now, I believe that there are three more inbound and then another group of four who just heard this little clash of yours. Good luck, and may you rejoice in this round of glorious tempering." He could only smile to himself as Wren's eyes widened at the realization, but the young man found his center and started acting quickly, with a surety that Kite himself would not have had at his age. This would indeed be a new time for his family…

And Kite looked forward to seeing what each and every one of his children would grow to accomplish.